Finotypic plasticity : Predator-induced plasticity in fin size, darkness and display behaviour in a teleost fish
Hulthén, Kaj LU ; Vinterstare, Jerker LU
; Nilsson, P. Anders
LU
and Brönmark, Christer
LU
(2024)
In Journal of Animal Ecology
93(8).
p.1135-1146
- Abstract
Fish fins are remarkable devices of propulsion. Fin morphology is intimately linked to locomotor performance, and hence to behaviours that influence fitness, such as foraging and predator avoidance. This foreshadows a connection between fin morphology and variation in predation risk. Yet, whether prey can adjust fin morphology according to changes in perceived risk within their lifetime (a.k.a. predator-induced plasticity) remains elusive. Here, we quantify the structural size of five focal fins in crucian carp (Carassius carassius) following controlled manipulations to perceived predation risk (presence/absence of pike Esox lucius). We also assess if crucian carp respond to increased predation risk by shifts in dorsal fin colouration,... (More)
Fish fins are remarkable devices of propulsion. Fin morphology is intimately linked to locomotor performance, and hence to behaviours that influence fitness, such as foraging and predator avoidance. This foreshadows a connection between fin morphology and variation in predation risk. Yet, whether prey can adjust fin morphology according to changes in perceived risk within their lifetime (a.k.a. predator-induced plasticity) remains elusive. Here, we quantify the structural size of five focal fins in crucian carp (Carassius carassius) following controlled manipulations to perceived predation risk (presence/absence of pike Esox lucius). We also assess if crucian carp respond to increased predation risk by shifts in dorsal fin colouration, and test for differences in how fish actively use their dorsal fins by quantifying the area of the fin displayed in behavioural trials. We find that crucian carp show phenotypic plasticity with regards to fin size as predator-exposed fish consistently have larger fins. Individuals exposed to perceived predation risk also increased dorsal fin darkness and actively displayed a larger area of the fin to potential predators. Our results thus provide compelling evidence for predator-induced fin enlargement, which should result in enhanced escape swimming performance. Moreover, fin-size plasticity may evolve synergistically with fin colouration and display behaviour, and we suggest that the adaptive value of this synergy is to enhance the silhouette of deep-bodied and hard-to-capture prey to deter gape-limited predators prior to attack. Together, our results provide new perspectives on the role of predation risk in development and evolution of fins.
(Less)
- author
- Hulthén, Kaj
LU
; Vinterstare, Jerker
LU
; Nilsson, P. Anders
LU
and Brönmark, Christer
LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2024-08
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- crucian carp, fish fins, gape-limited predators, inducible defences, phenotypic plasticity, predator deterrent signals, predator–prey interactions, swimming performance
- in
- Journal of Animal Ecology
- volume
- 93
- issue
- 8
- pages
- 12 pages
- publisher
- Wiley-Blackwell
- external identifiers
-
- pmid:38898692
- scopus:85196423222
- ISSN
- 0021-8790
- DOI
- 10.1111/1365-2656.14130
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 026470b0-2db4-4006-a94b-81ba429b7660
- date added to LUP
- 2024-09-11 16:30:55
- date last changed
- 2024-09-12 03:00:07
@article{026470b0-2db4-4006-a94b-81ba429b7660,
abstract = {{<p>Fish fins are remarkable devices of propulsion. Fin morphology is intimately linked to locomotor performance, and hence to behaviours that influence fitness, such as foraging and predator avoidance. This foreshadows a connection between fin morphology and variation in predation risk. Yet, whether prey can adjust fin morphology according to changes in perceived risk within their lifetime (a.k.a. predator-induced plasticity) remains elusive. Here, we quantify the structural size of five focal fins in crucian carp (Carassius carassius) following controlled manipulations to perceived predation risk (presence/absence of pike Esox lucius). We also assess if crucian carp respond to increased predation risk by shifts in dorsal fin colouration, and test for differences in how fish actively use their dorsal fins by quantifying the area of the fin displayed in behavioural trials. We find that crucian carp show phenotypic plasticity with regards to fin size as predator-exposed fish consistently have larger fins. Individuals exposed to perceived predation risk also increased dorsal fin darkness and actively displayed a larger area of the fin to potential predators. Our results thus provide compelling evidence for predator-induced fin enlargement, which should result in enhanced escape swimming performance. Moreover, fin-size plasticity may evolve synergistically with fin colouration and display behaviour, and we suggest that the adaptive value of this synergy is to enhance the silhouette of deep-bodied and hard-to-capture prey to deter gape-limited predators prior to attack. Together, our results provide new perspectives on the role of predation risk in development and evolution of fins.</p>}},
author = {{Hulthén, Kaj and Vinterstare, Jerker and Nilsson, P. Anders and Brönmark, Christer}},
issn = {{0021-8790}},
keywords = {{crucian carp; fish fins; gape-limited predators; inducible defences; phenotypic plasticity; predator deterrent signals; predator–prey interactions; swimming performance}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{8}},
pages = {{1135--1146}},
publisher = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
series = {{Journal of Animal Ecology}},
title = {{Finotypic plasticity : Predator-induced plasticity in fin size, darkness and display behaviour in a teleost fish}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1365-2656.14130}},
doi = {{10.1111/1365-2656.14130}},
volume = {{93}},
year = {{2024}},
}